Looks Like Candy, Devastates Like Hard Drugs

March 29, 2007

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With meth marketers continuing to court the youngest and most vulnerable audience with an ever-changing product, drug prevention educators and enforcement agencies are constantly changing their strategy.

The Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating and tracking regional reports of the colored, flavored crystal meth trend, but it's proving difficult to track.
Drug rehabilitation centers in Tennessee, West Virginia and Montana said they had no patients who reported using flavored meth, and say this may be just the beginning of a trend.

Tony Bylsma, director Narconon Drug Prevention and Education, said parents are the key to stopping the spread of the revamped products and need to let their kids know that just because it looks different, the consequences of using are unchanged.

"Drug education agencies say parents have to alert the kids to this and make sure they understand that it's the same drug and let them understand how dangerous these drugs are," said Bylsma. "It's just as important for them to teach the kids to understand drugs as it is to teach them to stay out of traffic."

Attaguile says just hearing about young people trying meth makes her sick.

"My stomach turns because I know what they're in for. I know how addictive it is," she said. "The teenagers won't have a choice in it, it's that powerful. … It's very sad."